Self-closing wallet



Feb 25, 1941. w. scHxMELMlTz SELF-CLOSING WALLET Filed July 18, I1959 INVENTOR Wolf .Sc/zzmeZmZz BY (fI i ATTo-RNEY Patented Feb. 225, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y SELF-CLOSING WALLET Wolf Schimelmitz,"New York,`N. Y.

Application.July 18, 19,39, Serial No.285,041

Claims.

`This invention relates to new and .useful improvements in a self-closing wallet.

II-'he invention has for an object'the construciton of `a wallet which is characterized by-fa front 5 layer of flexible material connected along its sides and bottom edges with a rear .layer rof flexible material, and a novel means mounted upon the edges of the open side `of said wallet for normally urging these sides into a closed l0 position.` l

More specifically the` invention contemplates `forming the top edge portion of each of vthe layers with an inwardly downwardly and .upwardly bent portion forming a passage, and mounting 16 a leaf spring strip within each passage in amannerso as to normally urge the open side of the wallet closed.

More specically the `invention vproposes to characterize each leaf spring by a strip portion 20 of concaved shape in cross section and "having finishing elements mounted uponits ends, .and said strips being mounted in said passages in a way so that the finishing elements engage the ends of the passages.

Still further the invention proposes theprovision of linesof stitches along the -end portions of the open sides ,of said wallet :arranged in va way so as to finish the edges of the wallet `and to form an abutment for the end ,portions of said springs.

Still further the invention .proposes a novel arrangement by which the Aresiliency of the selfclosing portion of the `wallet may be varied at In the accompanying drawing forming amaterial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of aself-closing wallet constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the leaf spring strips, per se.

Figufl is a fragmentarysectional view taken on the line II-4 ofFig. 3.

rspring; material formed slightly curved in trans- `illusrated in Fig. 2. springs I'I Awill keep the open side-.I2 of the wallet vIl secured together along the sides and bottom edges forming a wallet having an open top I2. These layers of material preferably comprise sheet leather or other material generally used in Wallets. The sides and bottom edges are secured 15 together `in a particular fashion. The edge portions II)a and IIa of each of the layers of material "are bent inwards. A strip `of material I3 `which is bent along `its center to have side arm ,portions,is interposed between the inwardly bent F20 portions Ill*ab and IIa.

A line of stitches I4 secure thearm portions of the strip I3 and the inwardly bent `portions IEL and I Iau together.

The parts may be easily amalgamated in the above fashion by first arranging the layers I0 @25 and VII with their .outer faces towards eachother and then placing` the binding strip I3 in position between the edges `of the layers, and then ksewing the parts together, with stitches I4, and

then finally turning the'wallet inside .out so that 30 the outer faces of the layers IIJ and II are now at the outside.

Thetop edge portions `I5 of each of the layers g I'Il and II are bent inwards and downwards and then `continue into upwardly bent portions I6. 35

YThese portions I5 and I6 produce passages of the top `edges of the layers I0 and II. Leaf springs ,I I are disposed within these passages.

`Each leaf spring I'I comprises a strip of leaf verse cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Finishing elements I8, such as metallic caps are engaged upon the'ends of the leaf springs to enclose the same and prevent these edges from cutting the material of the layers I0 and II. `Each 45 spring I'I is of a length substantially equal to the length of the `passage in `which it is placed.

`The springs IIare opposed to each other so that the concaved faces face each other, as It will be found that thelclosed. The wallet may easily be opened by pressing together the opposed corners A and B, see

y Fig. l of the walletso as toY cause the springs I1 .to buckle awayfrom each other. Articles `may 55 then be placed into or removed from the wallet. When the points A and B of the wallet are released the springs I'I return to their normal positions again closing the opening I2.

Lines of stitches I4 are sewed through the outer faces of the layers I0 and II of the wallet and serve to close the Iends of the passages produced by the inturn edge portions I5 and I6.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the provision of a means by which the exibility of the self-closing edges of the wallet may be varied. The wallet is constructed substantially the same as described 'in the previous form, and similar parts may be recognized by the identical reference numerals.

' However, in addition to the construction mentioned, each layer of the material` forming the body of the wallet is provided with a holding strap 2U. These straps 20 are secured at their inner ends 2!)a to the material of the wallet at a point immediately adjacent the upturned edge portion IB.

Each strap 2l)` extends downwards and around the bend of the portions I5 and I6 and up to a point between the portions I5. Each strap 20 is provided with a fastening element 2|, such as a snap fastener, by which it is releasably oonnected with the adjacent material of the portion I5. An auxiliary leaf spring I'I constructed substantially. identical to the leaf spring II is disposed into each space between the edge portion I6 and the adjacent layer of material of the wallet. The straps20 hold these auxiliary strips I'I in position.

When the end portions of the wallet are pressed together it is possible to simultaneously bow the leaf springs at each of the sides of the opening I2 of the wallet, away from each other, so that the mouth I2 is opened. Then articles may be placed into or removed from the wallet.

When these ends are released the opening I2 is automatically closed by the spring I'I and I'I straightening out.

However, when it is desired to change the resiliency of the leaf closing portions of the wallet, it is merely necessary to temporarily release the front ends of the straps 20 by disconnecting the fastening elements 2 I Then the auxiliary spring I'I may be removed by slipping them downwards. Or, if it is desired to add to or stiffen the resilient action, additional auxiliary strips may be slipped upwards adjacent the springs I1. The straps 20 may then be secured at their outer ends to hold the additional springs in position.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A self-closing wallet, comprising a front layer of exible material and arear layer of exible material secured together along their sides and bottom edges forming a wallet with an open top, the top edge portions of said layers being bent inwards, and the edge por-tions of said inwardly bent portions being bent upwards forming passages in the top edges of said layers, leaf spring strips within said passages, and an auxiliary leaf spring strip engaged in'fthe space between said upwardly bent portion and the adjacent material of one of said layers, and straps mounted upon said layers and extended across said edge portions of the layers in a way to hold said auxiliary leaf springs releasably in position.

2. A self-closing wallet, comprising a front layer of flexible material and a rear layer of iiexible material secured together along their sides and bottom edges forming a wallet with an open top, the top edge portions of said layers being bent inwards, and `the edge portions of said nwardly bent portions being bent upwards forming passages in the top edges of said layers, leaf spring strips within said passages, and an auxiliary leaf spring strip engaged in the space be- .tween said upwardly bent portion and the adjacent material of one of Said layers, and straps mounted upon said layers and extended across said edge portions of the layers in a way to hold said auxiliary l-eaf springs releasably in position,

and fastening elements for holding the free ends of said straps.

3. A self-closing wallet, comprising a front layer of flexible material and a rear layer of exible material secured together along their sides .and'bottom edges forming a wallet with an open top,. said layershaving their top edge portions bent inwards and continuing into portions bent upwards between the adjacent faces of said layers and said inwardly bent portions forming passages between said inwardly and upwardly bent portions across said open top, leaf spring strips mounted in said passages for holding said top closed, auxiliary leaf spring strips disposed between the adjacent faces of said layers and said upwardly bent portions for assisting said strips in holding said top closed, and means for holding said auxiliary strips in position between the adjacent faces of'said layers and said upwardly bent portions.

4. A self-closing wallet, comprising a front Vlayer of flexible material and a rear layer of flexible material secured together along their sides and bottom edges forming a wallet with an open top, said layers having their top edge p0rtions bent inwards and continuing into portions bent upwards between the adjacent faces of said layers and said inwardly bent portions forming passages between said inwardly and upwardly bent portions across said open top, leaf spring strips mounted in said passages for holding said top closed, .auxiliary leaf spring strips disposed between the adjacent faces of said layers and said upwardly bent portions for assisting said strips in holding said top closed, and means for holding said auxiliary strips in position between the adjacent faces of said layers and said upwardly bent portions, comprising' straps having one of their ends attached to the inside face of said layers and their free ends extended along the face of said inwardly bent portions, and means for releasably attaching the free ends of said straps to the adjacent face of its respective inwardly bent portion.

5, A self-closing wallet, comprising `a front layer of exible material and a rear layer of flexible material secured together along their sides and bottom edges forming a wallet with an open top, said layers having their top edge portions bent inwards and continuing into portions bent upwards between the adjacent faces o f said layers and said inwardly bent portions forming passages between said inwardly and upwardly bent portions across said open top, leaf` spring strips mounted in said passages for holding said 75 top closed, auxiliary leaf spring strips disposed between the adjacent faces of said layers and said upwardly bent portions for assisting said strips in holding said top closed, and means for holding said auxiliary strips in position between the adjacent faces of said layers and said upwardly bent portions, comprising straps having one of their ends attached to the inside face of said layers and their free ends extended along assasss the face of said inwardly bent portions, and means for releasably attaching the free ends of said straps to the adjacent face of its respective inwardly bent portions, comprising snap fastener elements mounted on the free ends of said straps and engageable with complementary snap fastener elements mounted on said inwardly bent portions.

WOLF' SCHIMELMITZ. 

